System and method for collision avoidance

Abstract

In operating an aircraft, a situation is displayed at each instant representing a spatio-temporal overview of risk zones around the aircraft. Each direction in space around the aircraft is scanned, and a simulated displacement of the aircraft in each direction is analyzed so as to identify potential zones of interference with the aircraft's path. Anticipated movement of risk zones over a planned time duration of a flight is determined. Such anticipated movement is correlated with an anticipation position of the aircraft over the planned time duration. Accordingly, risk zones initially appearing as a potential hazard may be determined to be safe by the time the aircraft reaches them, and vice versa. Such information is presented to pilots at an outset of the flight and continuously updated throughout the flight, enabling accurate and safe evaluation and strategy decisions.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An aircraft collision avoidance system, comprising:
 a display; 
 one or more inputs adapted to receive interference information; 
 a memory storing an initial flight plan, the initial flight plan including a flight path and an associated time period; 
 one or more processors in communication with the display, the one or more processors being configured to: 
 receive interference information from one or more information systems, the interference information identifying objects between an aircraft and its destination; 
 determine a position of each of the identified objects at a first time; 
 determine a geometry of each of the objects between the aircraft and its destination; 
 determine a speed and displacement of each of the objects; 
 compute a predicted position of each object at a second time later than the first time based on the determined geometry, speed, and displacement, wherein the second time corresponds to a time when the aircraft is expected to be at a particular position along the initial flight path; and 
 output to the display an indication of the predicted position of each object at the second time. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more information systems include at least one of a weather radar, a weather uplink, a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), or an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B). 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the geometry of each object includes a plurality of vertices, and wherein determining the speed and displacement of each object includes determining a speed and displacement of each of the plurality of vertices. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein determining the speed and displacement of each of the plurality of vertices is performed over a time horizon corresponding to a ratio between a range selected on the display and a current speed of the aircraft. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein computing the predicted position comprises calculating at each instant t in the time horizon an intersection of a circular arc centered on the aircraft with the determined displacement of each object. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein outputting to the display the indication of the predicted position of each object comprises outputting a graphic illustrating predicted movement of the objects over time in relation to the flight path. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises one or more display areas, a first display area displaying the predicted position of each object at the second time, and a second display area displaying a real-time position of each object. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine, based on the computed prediction position of each object at the second time, whether any of the objects will create a hazardous condition for the aircraft. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to automatically modify the initial flight plan based on the computed predicted position of each object at the second later time when it is determined that an object will create a hazardous condition. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to update the display to generate a warning when it is determined that an object will create a hazardous condition. 
     
     
       11. A method for avoiding collision of an aircraft, comprising:
 storing an initial flight plan, the initial flight plan including a flight path and an associated time period; 
 receiving interference information from one or more information systems, the interference information identifying objects between the aircraft and its destination; 
 determining, with one or more processors, a position of each of the identified objects at a first time; 
 determining, with the one or more processors, a geometry of each of the objects between the aircraft and its destination; 
 determining, with the one or more processors, a speed and displacement of each of the objects; 
 computing, with the one or more processors, a predicted position of each object at a second time later than the first time based on the determined geometry, speed, and displacement, wherein the second time corresponds to a time when the aircraft is expected to be at a particular position along the initial flight path; and 
 displaying an indication of the predicted position of each object at the second time. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more information systems include at least one of a weather radar, a weather uplink, a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), or an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B). 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the geometry of each object includes a plurality of vertices, and wherein determining the speed and displacement of each object includes determining a speed and displacement of each of the plurality of vertices. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining the speed and displacement of each of the plurality of vertices is performed over a time horizon corresponding to a ratio between a range selected on the display and a current speed of the aircraft. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein computing the predicted position comprises calculating at each instant t in the time horizon an intersection of a circular arc centered on the aircraft with the determined displacement of each object. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein outputting to the display the indication of the predicted position of each object comprises outputting a graphic illustrating predicted movement of the objects over time in relation to the flight path. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein displaying the indication of the predicted position of each object at the second time further comprises displaying a real-time position of each object, wherein the real-time position is distinguishable from the predicted position. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine, based on the computed prediction position of each object at the second time, whether any of the objects will create a hazardous condition for the aircraft. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising automatically modifying the initial flight plan based on the computed predicted position of each object at the second later time when it is determined that an object will create a hazardous condition. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising updating the display to generate a warning when it is determined that an object will create a hazardous condition. 
     
     
       21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor for performing a method of avoiding collision of an aircraft, the instructions comprising:
 receiving interference information from one or more information systems, the interference information identifying objects between the aircraft and its destination; 
 determining a position of each of the identified objects at a first time; 
 determining a geometry of each of the objects between the aircraft and its destination; 
 determining a speed and displacement of each of the objects; 
 computing a predicted position of each object at a second time later than the first time based on the determined geometry, speed, and displacement, wherein the second time corresponds to a time when the aircraft is expected to be at a particular position along an initial flight path; and 
 providing an indication of the predicted position of each object at the second time for display.